Combating Al Qaeda and Its Network Develop Essay

Combating Al Qaeda and Its Network

Develop 8-10-page national defense strategy combat Al Qaeda network. Consider type threat group presents proper responses (i.e. military, LE, political) managing threat. Refer current national strategies inspiration ensure paper incorporates ideas.

National or Defense Strategy to Combat Al Qaeda and its Network

Al Qaeda network operations and threats to security come as a different challenge to United States and the coalition forces. Al Qaeda operations and its networks come out as an organized, tactical, decentralized, highly irregular and asymmetric threat of warfare. The tactics Al Qaeda employs have the capability to by-pass the conventional superior strengths of the U.S. military and intelligence force (Carter, 2005).

The operations and organizations undertaken by Al Qaeda are full of deceptive measures that mask behind intelligence, stealth and denial. With the developments observed in technologically advanced communication, transport Al Qaeda operations and networks have a profound global reach. In its operations, Al Qaeda has no distinct recognition between civilian and military target making it more difficult to provide adequate security measure against possible targets. Prominent leaders behind Al Qaeda operations and networks have frequently brought in religion as a reason for their actions. With this as a defense, they have continued to wreak havoc upon human life with absolute disregard for the human life sanctity (Carter, 2005).

Nature of Operations and Threats by Al Qaeda and its Networks

The combination of an asymmetric component and the ideological beliefs within Al Qaeda and its networks presents a component unfamiliar within the international arena. The ideology behind the threats and attacks gets its asymmetry and inspiration from Jihadism. It core intention is unwavering targeting unsuspecting civilians to deliver intolerable their message to the interfering coalition forces (Clarke, 2006).

In the Unites States the nature of threats and attacks are in two distinct elements. This comprise of Stateless Al Qaeda operations under a network of terrorists and movement with the Islamic World on radical ideologies. The radical ideologies form a new dimension surrounding the political Islamic Jihadist strategy that aims as replacing the present secular governments in predominantly Muslim States (These States include; Afghanistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Algeria, the Gulf states and Indonesia) (Siegfried, 2007).

The ideology behind the Jihadist strategy is to restore Islam's purity previously inexistence in the 7th century at the time of Prophet Muhammad (Siegfried, 2007). The tactic Al Qaeda chooses is to attack U.S.'s presence in certain regions and at home. This aims at forcing United States' submission and withdrawal from Muslim Countries. Al Qaeda leaders - such as Bin Laden - influence on this hard line strategy continues to influence the ideology that America is a super power targeting world domination and as such an evil power. Al Qaeda networks holding on to this ideology seeks to topple secular leaders in Muslim Countries and break the yoke of world domination by America (Clarke, 2006).

Measures to combat Al Qaeda and its Networks

Currently sources of threats under Jihadist are in three categories; Algerian Salafist and other Jihadist components with close ties to Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda and Egyptian Islamic Jihad nexus and its leadership of Osama bin Laden and the Jamaat Islamiyya - Indonesian; and likeminded sympathetic groups with similar ideologies. The liking of the latter category to Al Qaeda is a recent development subsequent to analyst and intelligence gathering exercises. The three categories of the threats operate under one strategic goal of Al Qaeda.

The ideal measures to; confront, fight and defeat the new dimensions in international terrorism and the operations of Al Qaeda networks will need to be a reflection of new measures. There is the need to step away from the customary constructs where state actors are subject to diplomatic and conventional rules of warfare (Clarke, 2006).

The dynamic nature of Al Qaeda and its networks calls for restructuring of the security policy as an attempt to cover the loopholes in the security and advance the fight against terrorism. It is needful to have transformational change and leadership qualities responsive to potential asymmetric threats and adaptive measures to protect against the threats. Decisive action taking is ideal in the attempt to break the bond between Al Qaeda and its network and assuring security to the state and citizens.

As opposed to viewing Al Qaeda and its networks as massive terrorist entity, an appreciation of affiliate Jihadist groups, as a global insurgency with military capability is ideal. Within its networks, Al Qaeda is a conglomeration of groups scattering all over five continents.This aspect makes difficult attempts to penetrate and perpetuates its ability to adapt to U.S. And coalition efforts in combating terrorism jihadist. Al Qaeda and its subsequent network growth are a global phenomenon encompassing links connecting Iraq's Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network, Algerian Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) and Jamaat Islamiyya in Southeast Asia (Clarke, 2006).

The Italy's Red Brigades or West Germany army Faction stands out as classical Euro-terrorist groups existing back in the 70s and 80s. These terrorist group activities differ from current terrorist activities by Al Qaeda and its networks. The widespread influence evident in the Al Qaeda's network operations poses considerable danger -- one that cannot seize by simply capturing or killing a small function of its leaders. Evidently, decentralization within Al Qaeda networks represents an approach of power-down away from the paradigm of central leadership to highly independent units of terrorism undertakings.

Three main features must come out in effective measures to counter Al Qaeda network operation. Among the three measures is a hard military and law stand that interdicts financing of terrorist activities. This measure should target bringing down the safe-havens terrorist groups use as operation bases. This will bring down Al Qaeda's financing activities and disable their leadership structures on the ground. This measure is ideal to combat Al Qaeda's network at its roots (Clarke, 2006).

Restructuring of the intelligence gathering authority is the second essential measure in effectively combating Al Qaeda and it network's operations. The restructuring should entail, redefining the missions and roles of the state, federal and local authority in guaranteeing protection of the citizens and the Infrastructure.

The third component involves measures to deal with the transition to self-governance in Muslim Countries and significantly reducing outside Military presence. This measure comes out as a counter ideology measure. This is because American Military occupation and operation in the Muslim countries comes up as a reason for Al Qaeda network operations and attacks on American soil.

The diversity and dynamics within the Al Qaeda terrorist networks prompts the United States security to rethink its policy in retaliation attempts. The attempts at offsetting opposition need to bear in mind that the networks do not operate under the moral guidance of normal human beings. Radical ideologies need to be in place to accommodate and propagate Al Qaeda's heinous actions.

Military Force and International Law Enforcement

The initial element to counter terrorist activities is to apply hard power in the form of military activities and putting in place law and law enforcement measures. These measures will see to it that the networks under Al Qaeda are choking under forces restricting financial resource and free strategizing measures. It is clear that the threat facing United States and affiliate countries comes from religious extremism. These are non-state and state sponsors operating in states non-responsive to international controls and norms. The attempt to deprive Al Qaeda and its networks the sanctuary and operational support is the first obvious measure to undercut their potential.

The strategy on hard operational measures to counter Al Qaeda terrorism needs to be in two elaborate measures. One is the use of international law enforcement functions and two the use of armed forces. The justification for the hard operation force and the use of the elaborate force organs is that the threat upon the citizens, State and the economy are devastating and catastrophic in nature. The purpose of Al Qaeda and their networks is to inflict pain and suffering to United States and affiliate innocent citizens by causing mass casualties, death and economic crises.

Going by the assertion the that main aim of war is to break the enemy, the hard line operational measures are ideal to see to it that Al Qaeda and its networks are brought to the ground. It is appreciable to considering that the devastation Al Qaeda and its networks targets to cause warrants their classification as international enemies. The use of force is also justifiable under international laws owing to the inconsiderate disregard sanctity of human life and violation of the law.

Interruption of Terrorism Financing Activities

Interrupting of terrorist financing is an inherent component of the hard counterterrorism element. Reality is that Al Qaeda and their networks cannot operate without funding even in most sparing environments. The process of raising, collecting and moving the money creates an opportunity to exploit Al Qaeda networks susceptibility. It is evident that Al Qaeda networks use dubious Islamic Charities, established banking systems criminal activities shadow economies and extortion….....